The "ordinary woman who was called onstage at an extraordinary time," as she wrote of herself, was last in the spotlight after her husband of 58 years, Gerald Ford, died Dec. 26, 2006, also at the age of 93.

My job onstage is to be as open as possible, to weave the show without a script as it comes, and this leaves me very emotionally available -- and vulnerable, if an audience chooses to abuse that trust.